Young people are transforming lives and UNICEF
“With their energy, passion and talent, they can have a significant impact, they can transform lives and the way we work as UNICEF.”
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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 40 young people aged 18-35 years joined UNICEF as United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) in 2023 to acquire professional experience, learn about the agency’s mission to protect the rights of children, and to have a positive impact on their communities.
“Our vision at UNICEF DRC is that young people should not only be assisted by our programmes or consulted every five years when we develop a new country programme,” says Grant Leaity, UNICEF Representative in DRC. “With their energy, passion and talent, they can have a significant impact, they can transform lives and the way we work as UNICEF.”
Opening the doors of UNICEF to young people
In partnership with the United Nations Volunteers Office in the DRC, the Young Champions programme was launched by UNICEF in 2023 with the objective of recruiting 40 young people aged 18-35 to join one of 10 UNICEF offices in DRC, for a period of three months.
Candidates were not required to have any previous professional experience or a university diploma. The only requirements were to be engaged in the community and wish to be an agent of change.
"This recruitment strategy was designed with a dual aim: to open our doors to those young people who might believe they are not qualified or experienced enough to enter the UN while at the same time investing in them as a multiplying force to help us better deliver our mandate,” explains Lisa Taieb, Adolescent and Youth Specialist at UNICEF DRC.
The programme was conceived following consultations with Young UNICEF staff and a U-Report poll identifying professional experience and competency development as an absolute priority for youth in the DRC. Results show we were right to step in.
“More than 2,000 candidates applied to the Young Champions Programme,” says Sophie Chavanel, Chief of Social and Behaviour Change at UNICEF DRC. “The number of candidates speaks for itself. And the success stories that emerged are heart-warming. I saw timid young people come into UNICEF and leave with confidence in their own skills, passion about giving back to others in need and hopeful for the future. I now see some of them finding jobs with other organizations. The programme has already shown great results in strengthening UNICEF’s and the UN’s talent pipeline.”
Meet Anselme – a pioneer of U-Report in IDP camps in eastern DRC
Anselme Bukuze, 27, started his three-month stint as a UNV in February 2023, joining the UNICEF field office in Goma in North Kivu in eastern DRC, a region that has been grappling with armed conflict, health epidemics and political instability for many decades. Anselme took the lead in promoting civic engagement and volunteering amongst young people in local camps for internally displaced people (IDPs). His work contributed to the creation of the first ever U-Report community in an IDP camp in DRC. U-Report is a UNICEF platform enabling youth to participate, to access information and to act as actors of change in their communities.
“I still remember the first time I met with the young people of Bulengo and Kanyaruchinya IDP camps – they felt alone in the world and thought nobody listened or cared,” Anselme recalls. “Today, they are united, and they take matters into their own hands to help their community. I'm proud I was able to contribute to give them a little bit of hope.”
Meet Ketsia – a promoter of peace
Ketsia Muteya Masika, 25, is from South Kivu, another conflict-affected province in eastern DRC. During her three months at UNICEF, she set up the Advocates for Peace programme to educate 250 young people from Bukavu in peacebuilding, and conflict prevention and management, and equip then with the skills to become advocates for peace in their own communities.
“This programme has enabled me to be a champion in my community,” Ketsia says. “Little by little, the programme is becoming a well-organized youth movement, including all Bukavu’s youth and leaving no one behind.”
Since it was established, the programme has now expanded to three other cities in South Kivu: Uvira, Baraka and Minova.
Meet Moïse, a UNV participating in the flood response
In May 2023, flash floods and landslides killed hundreds of people in Kalehe in South Kivu province in eastern DRC. Moïse Ashuza, 24, decided to assist young people in the affected areas of Bushushu and Nyamukubi to become actors of change and take positive action within their communities. As many as 70 young people followed his lead and volunteered to rehabilitate a bridge that was destroyed during the floods and improve access to the local health centre and other social services.
“After the flood in Kalehe, the bridge was in a state of absolute disrepair,” he says. “I thought I needed to do something. I approached other young people and they immediately understood that it was time to forget the pain, get organized and unite to act positively. Today, I'm delighted to see that other young people have followed their example.”
Meet Tegra, a UNV in Lubumbashi raising awareness about plastic pollution
To combat plastic pollution, Tegra Kabedi Luboya, 21, organized an exhibition of plastic-based artwork to raise awareness about recycling and reuse of plastic waste. A total of 2,500 people were reached with messages and reminded about the importance of protecting the environment for future generations.
“Because the protection of the environment requires behavioral change, I strongly believe that it is important to awaken an ecological culture in young people,” says Tegra. “This is my contribution.”
An incubator for young talents and a springboard for a lifelong career in the service of humanity
“UNICEF’s Young Champion Programme is making a real difference, aiming to empower 40 young Congolese as UN Volunteers in a year. This is more than an assignment – it’s the start of a career. I’ve seen the change it makes. That’s a future worth fighting for” says Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers Programme.
Meet Jeremie Muambi Muambi, UNICEF young champion UNV, Kananga
Jeremie Muambi Muamabi, 29, went from being a Young Champion in Kananga in Kasaï province to a Specialist UNV for Youth Engagement.
“The Young Champions programme has much to congratulate itself on,” he says. "It has given us the opportunity to realize our potential while acquiring new skills to be more competitive in the job market.”
Meet Grace Wani, UNICEF young champion UNV, Bunia
This programme is proof of UNICEFs commitment to youth empowerment, and I am a tangible example of its success. I've grown a lot and I now consider myself an actor of development and of positive change,” says Grace Wani, a former UNICEF UNV Young in Bunia and now United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNV Education Officer in Kinshasa.
And it is only the beginning!
For more information on the United Nations Volunteer programme click here: https://www.unv.org.
